The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-25
READY TO LAY THE PIPES
The Standard Oil Company Asks the
Privilege Of Using the City's Streets.
If the Request Is Granted 1t Will at Once
Begin Laying Pipes. and Will Bring
Gas Into the Houses, if Desired

IL IS now pretty Qehnltely settled tnat IL VIII
be but short time until Indianapolis citizens
will be burning natural gas piped here from No
hlesville If the piping is not done by the
Standard Oil Company local capital will do it.
There is a general feeling that gas will not be
found close around the city, and that the supply
will have to come from Noblesvile. The Stand
ARD Oil Company. having secured control OF
that we'll, is ready to begin work to bring the gas
here Messrs Payne and Mansfield, represent
ing the company, have been here for several
days looking over the field. Their attorneys
have prepared an ordinance, which will be pre-
sented TO the Council tonight. asking that any
company be granted the privilege of piping the
city. 'Tf the ordinance is passed." said Mr.. l.
II. Mansfield. of the company, last night, 1--WE
will begin work the next day. In the ordinance
our attorneys have prepared we ask special
privileges, and will ask none in the future We
simply ask that the Council grant the right to
lay pipes throughout the city Any other COM
pany will be on an equal footing with u.s. and If
they have gas closer than we have let them
bring it in. If the ordinance is passed we shall
put lsrge force of men at work and will have
the gas here in snort time"
''Will there be any difficulty in piping it from
Noblesvilep
None in the least In fact there are ad-
vantages III having it that far away. If the
people only knew it, they do not want to strike
gas right here in the city. With such supply
as there is at Noblesville there is necessity
for wasting time in boring for il close to the
city Indianapolis is in the gas belt. There is
no doubt of that fact. and there Is not another
city in America that can he supplied with fuel
cheaper"
Speaking of the opposition that there might be
said: There is always some opposition to US.
but there IS no reason why there should be. 1t
may be said that the Standard Oil
Company is a monopoly, but it is a
is q monopoly that has always been in favor of
cheapness and has done moro for the people OF
the United States than any other corporation.
1t takes an aggregation OF money to accomplish
any big thing, and the Standard Oil Company
has succeeded because it has plenty OF money.
"If you are given the privilege of piping the
city. will you begin here or at Nobesvillel"
1--WE will probably begin at Noblesville, but
with the force OF men we will put to work it will
not make much difference where we begin"
will you bring the gas into the houses, or
simply upon the streets2"
THAT is matter to be decided later on. We
will consult the wishes of the people in regard to
that The first object is to get the fuel on the
into the houses, we will do it"
Speaking of how the introduction of gas for
heating purposes affected city, Mr.. Mansfield
said The people do not realize what an limo
walton it will be. It is bound to make great
city out Of Indianapolis. One thing / am quite
glad to see here, and that is conservatism.
Above all things. excitement should be avoided.
The way to Kill the city is to begin speculation
Hundreds of manufacturers will be looking to
the city with view of locating as soon as it is
definitely known that the gas Is TO be utilized,
but nothing will keep them away like real estate
speculation. have heard that syndicates are
already buying up the land around the city that
could be utilized for manufacturing purposes.
That is the way to keep away the manufacturers
If the land is to be run up to an enormous figure.
Men are not going to come here II they have to
pay fortune for land on which to locate.
The advantages to manufacturers are not the
greatest to be derived. Every citizen profits by
the introduction of the fuel. We can't make
people believe how inexpensive it is, but after
they try it once they begin to realize its advan-
tages. Pittsburg editor remarked to me the
other day that since the introduction of the fuel
there there had been scarcely any divorce suits
filed, because there is no quarreling now who
shall get up and build the fres-lt is always
burning, if you want. and you can get out of bed
and find the tea kettle boiling"
Mr.. Mansfield says he intends to remain in the
city until he ascertains whether or not the Coun
Gil will will give them the right to lay their
pipes, and if the ordinance passes he will make
this his headquarters in the future. Mr.. Payne
will return the latter part OF the week.
All efforts to consolidate the local companies
have failed, and Judge Martindale said last
night that thsre would be no consolidation.
All the companies are willing. cept the Capital
| City company, operating at Brightwood
| which refused all overtures. There was
| some talk. yesterday morning, of the
other companies uniting, but agreement
| could be reached, and the matter was dropped.
| An effort is being made to increase
| the capital of some of the companies, in
| order to compete with the Standard Oil
| Company, and that will probably be done. There
was also some talk of one of the local companies
uniting with the Standard Oil Company, but nc
action has yet been taken. and nothing will be
| DONE
| The Brightwood we'll will be ''shot" in day
| or two, and there is yet lingering hope thai
gas may be found there Boring will begin a
| Westfeld to-day. The Bridgeport we'll is to be
| abandoned. and one will, perhaps. be sunk al
| Plainfeld, three miles further west A loca
| company has already been organized there, ani
| if the city capitalists do not conclude to bore
there the Painfeld company will.